Weekend Get-A-Way...

for Mommy and Daddy was a fun, fun time!

Two weekends ago, Jason and I hit Chicago to catch a little (BOO!) Cubs action, visit Karrie and Vinnie B, and catch up with my bro, Aaron. MawMaw Cindy flew up and spent 4 days with the three munchkins...they loved every second of it and totally had a blast with her. It was great to see friends and nice to see my bro's place. (Which he happens to be moving out of soon!) It's been a loooong time since Jason and I have had a date night, much less a couple date nights in a row. We definitely enjoyed our time together!!! It was so nice to be able to hold hands with the hubbs whenever I wanted...Love you, Jason!!!

Enjoying the view before heading off on our boat tour of the city and skyline...

Loving our seats for the game...Jason LOVES the Cubs!

The whole gang at enjoying Wrigley....

Jason, Me, and Karrie

Fun times at Wrigleyville...

Karrie and I talking about old memories and laughing like usual....

Just a little glimpse of the AMAZING views we had on the boat tour...Great idea, Uncle Aaron!

The afternoon we got back from Chicago...we hit the ICubs game here in Iowa. The kids wanted to show MawMaw Cindy how awesome Principal Park is!! It was a HOT one, but a fun one!!!

Posing with MawMaw....

Trey Man & MaMaw

Ty & MawMaw (and Baby, of course)

MawMaw and Sweet Tay...

We definitely hated seeing MawMaw Cindy leave, but we know she was ready for a break!! These three definitely kept her busy, busy, and more busy!!! THANKS for the great little visit and thanks so much for letting us road trip to Chicago for the weekend! Love you and Miss you lots, Mom!!! XoXo

Fabulous FIFTEEN....

MONTHS, that is!!

You, Miss Tay, are growing like a weed around here and I just can't get enough of your little chubby legs and sweet, sweet, sweetness!! You're a motoring around on those two trunks of yours like an old pro and absolutely LOVE blueberries, grapes, and watermelon....not to mention scrambled eggs!!! You're a hoot with this new "funny face" of yours and just LOVE to give kisses! And, I mean LOTS and LOTS of kisses. You're starting to cheese for the camera and absolutely adore bath time and wrestling around with you big sibs. You, Miss Big Girl, can handle your own, that's for sure! You are totally getting into books and have completely dropped the bottle. We can help thank MawMaw Cindy for that one...she didn't give you a single one while we were in Chicago and you haven't looked back since. You're into feeding yourself with a spoon and fork lately and do manage to get a bite here or there in-between all the "drops." Dancing moves are right up your alley....in fact, we all love to sit around and watch you shake your stuff! It's quite the ADORABLE site!! Your taking one long(er) nap a day and just love swinging in your swing. "Ashide" is your favorite place to be and you'd spend ALL day long out there if I let ya!! Hearing you say outside, and all those other words you are learning, in that cute little voice of yours just makes me smile. Your hair is almost hitting the inch mark, so I'm sorry to say that many people still ask me how old my little "boy" is...but, we just smile and blow kisses and wave bye-bye like it ain't no thing. I guess pink Binkies, pink shirts, and pink sandals are so common now, that they don't even signal "girl" anymore ;) You are a blondie, that's for sure, and those blue eyes have stayed blue for the time being. All in all, Miss Tay, you are my sunshine and the total light in all of our lives!

Love you bunches & bunches,

~Mommy

Cheesin' for the camera and showing off all those teeth of yours...those 12 month molars are all in and helping you chomp, chomp away!

Latest "funny face"....you crack us up with this one!!

Splish....

Splashin'....

Away! Told you that you LOVE bath time!!!

Having fun with the chalk...

Trey trying to give you a hug....see, I wasn't exaggerating when I told you that you could hold your own!!!

XXX's & OOO's, Big Girl!!!

Big Time Helpers...

Trey and Tylee are really very good with their little sis. Sure, they like to sometimes get into her personal space, pick her up like a baby doll, and "wrestle" a tad too rough, but overall, they are fabulous at being a big brother and a big sister. Just look at all the AWESOME help they were there to give as Tay was busy mastering her first major big girl steps.....

I seriously cannot tell you just how much those pictures MELT MY HEART!! I mean, I know how fast-paced a 6 year-old and a 3 year-old can be. How much they LOVE to run everywhere and anywhere. How  much they want what they want, when they want it. So, the fact that they each grabbed a hand and walked SLOWLY with their little sis just makes me so proud. And, what about below...as they played ball and were sure to include Tay in whatever they happened to be doing....

Trey and Ty...I am so PROUD of the AWESOME big brother and big sister you are being to Miss Tay. She absolutely adores you both and wants to be right there and involved. Seeing you three all happy, laughing, and having a good time together makes all the little things, like pregnancy stretch marks...LOL, all worth it!!! THANK YOU, you are helping her more than you know!!! I'm excited to see you three go from my little munchkins to my three musketeers!! So. Fun.

XXX's & OOO's

~Mommy

Chalk, Water Balloons, and Bug Catching....

have to be three of the CHEAPEST forms of entertainment for The Weite Kiddos...

I mean seriously, they can spend hours doing any one of the three mentioned above. Now, Tay does love to participate, but she can't obviously hang that long. But, given the way her big bro and sis get after it, she will fall right into step with them in no time...

I have a feeling that these three things will be on their weekly, if not daily to-do list over the next couple of months.

Tay getting in on the sidewalk chalk action....

Cheesers!!!

All smiles...Binky included!!!

All ready to catch some butterflies....

"Oooooohhhhh!"

Admiring his catch...

Water balloon TIME!!

Ty going after Trey as he runs back to get more ammo....

"Coming for ya!"

"Right back at ya!"

Trey handing over a few of his because Ty's supply ran out!!

Tay getting her own balloon to carry around!

Ready for round #2....all smiles!!!

Oh, you two, please, please continue to have good, cheap fun together!!! Lots of memories and laughter await and I know Tay's chompin' at the bit to jump into all the action..get ready!!!

There are FISHIES in the Weite House....

Little FISHIES that just can't get enough of the water!

With last summer pretty much being solely dedicated to packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in, we didn't have much of an opportunity to hit the pools here in our new community. So, this summer, I bought a family pool pass for Trey, Tylee, and myself. Tay and Daddy didn't get one because they don't like to frequent the pools as much as us three. With the pool passes, we have access to three different aquatic centers and don't have to wait in any long entry lines...in fact, this afternoon, we were able to bypass about 30 groups because we already had a pass. The three kiddos I had with me didn't appreciate that bonus nearly as much as I did....LOL!

I'd have to say that it's super, duper EASY for me to leave the dishwasher full of clean dishes, skip the vacuuming, and ignore the laundry that needs to be put away when I can spend my summer days like this instead....

Ty says it's always cold when she jumps in, but not to worry because it warms up!

Snacking on blueberries during a "pool check"....LOVE those little breaks. I don't think there's any way I'd get them out to hydrate and re-apply sunscreen otherwise!!!

Slide time!

She may or may not have gone down this thing 200 times during the first visit!!

Weeeeeeeee!

LOVE this little diver, goggle ears and ALL!

Splish-splashin' away once she FINALLY got into the water. Tay seriously squeezed the life out of me for the first 30 minutes and then wouldn't get off the walkway and into the water for at least another 30 minutes. I'm hoping she warms up to this whole environment before we head down to Gulf Shores...it just might be a loooooon seven days on the beach!!!

Ty all ready to jump in...

Ready.....Set.....JUMP!!!

Can you tell he LOVES the idea of spending everyday this summer in this exact location?!?!

Tay gettin' her snooze on....So. Comfy.

Her absolute FAVORITE spot to sit....and watch everyone else around her get wet!!!

Giggle for the Cam....

So munchkins, here's to many, many more fun moments in that water!! As much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hanging out at the pool with you, it can still be a little nerve wracking for this Momma. So, we just need to all remember to stick to the pool rules....

1. Never head off anywhere without first talking to Momma
2. Go to the bathroom as a goup
3. Always swim with a buddy
4. Drink LOTS of water

I picked these four because I know it could easily be at least 10 rules longer, but there's no way they'd be able to remember that many...so we stick to the majors. Things like sunscreen are just a given ;)

HAPPY SWIMMING!